Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted that the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur played a role in his decision to leave out Eric Bailly in the defeat by West Brom.

The Ivory Coast international was a surprise omission from the Red Devils' matchday squad on Sunday afternoon as his place at the heart of defence alongside Chris Smalling was taken by Victor Lindelof.

Given the 24-year-old's importance to the side, there would have been some fears that he was left out of the squad altogether as a result of an injury sustained in training ahead of the game at Old Trafford.

However, before kick-off at the 'Theatre of Dreams' Mourinho explained the situation with Bailly and eased supporters' fears over another injury set-back for the defender.

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Mourinho also revealed that he took of Paul Pogba before the hour mark to ensure the midfielder avoided another yellow card.

"I had to make a decision one midfield player out to bring in Jesse Lingard and then after that I wanted more width, and Paul had a yellow card and before that he had a situation not for a second yellow but you never know in football, so I reacted to that."

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